After the initial shock had worn off, the royals, captain and several of his men sat in the royal conference room, discussing the prince's unexpected visit. Greger had brought just two of his loyal supporters with him, as his departure from the Southern Isles had been a hasty one.

"I'm sorry to sail in unannounced. Cloak and dagger has become a bit of a habit over the years, I'm afraid," the lost prince explained. "Ever since your visit to Odense my father has increased his efforts to quell the rebellion."

"Greger, we have already discussed this," Elsa began but the prince quickly interrupted.

"You misunderstand Majesty. I am not looking for support for the rebellion. We have all but disbanded. I have come to realize that as much as I despise my father and his methods, it is simply too large a task to undertake currently. I seek only your help in making a new start."

"Of course, Greger!" Elsa was truly touched by the man's plea. "I'm sorry if we assumed the worst. You and your men are welcome to remain in Arendelle as long as you wish."

"Thank you, Majesty. I hope that you and I can find time now to discuss our unique 'abilities' in detail."

"I would enjoy that very much. For now, though, I believe we have all had enough excitement for one night…" The parties all bid each other good night and Rayce offered to show Greger and his men to the guest quarters. The pair traveled in silence until the prince spoke up.

"So… how goes things with you and Her Majesty?"

"I don't know what you're talking about…" Rayce grumbled already irritated with the prince.

"Her Majesty, about 5'8, early twenties, long blond hair, beautiful… assets and ice powers?"

"I know Her Majesty!" Rayce snapped resisting the urge to slam Greger into the wall. "I don't know what you're trying to suggest."

"Oh, so Her Majesty is available? That's good news!"

"You will leave her be Greger or so help me-" Rayce was so incensed he couldn't find the proper words to express his rage.

"There it is!" The prince exclaimed, clapping Rayce on the shoulder.

"There what is?"

"The spark! I can tell you and Her Majesty are smitten with one another, I just wanted to give you a hard time about it."

"Why would you do that if you know what you think you know?"

"I was just pulling your chain old boy. Meant no disrespect. Guess my social skills are a little rusty, living in caves and all that." Greger's face fell a little and Rayce couldn't help but feel bad for him.

" Your skills are fine, I suppose I am a little …touchy when it comes to the subject of Her Majesty…"

"As any man in love would be! Listen to me old boy. There are few things I know but affairs of the heart are my specialty. If she is what you truly want, go get her!"

"She's not a prize at a fair, Greger. And, as you know, royals rarely have the luxury of following their hearts."

"That is all very true but I also know that with love in your life, few other things are necessary. Think about it. I'm sure you'll agree that if all you had was one another you could be content."

Rayce had thought about it, many times in fact. He could think of nothing more blissful than spending his days and nights with Elsa, possibly raising a family. Whether they lived in a castle or a hut, he had no doubt they would be deliriously happy. They reached Greger's door before either realized and Rayce bid him good night, still mulling over what he had said.

"Night, old boy! Remember what I said. If you want her…" He trailed off before closing the door behind him leaving Rayce alone in the hallway wondering why on earth he couldn't keep his attraction to Elsa a secret.


Weeks passed and soon the Summer Summit was barely over a month away. Greger and his men had been instrumental in helping with preparations. The prince used his unique abilities to help repairs around the city as well as building ramps to hasten the unloading of ships, though never in the public eye. Elsa had requested he not reveal himself to the people just yet, as they were still skittish around magical beings. With just his charm and personality he had quickly gained the people's trust though his country of origin stayed a closely guarded secret. As much as she wished to distrust and dislike the prince, Elsa too found him to be great company. Even Rayce found that he had come to enjoy Greger's teasing manner, even though it was mostly directed at the captain. The prince and Elsa spent many a dinner discussing applications for their powers much to the chagrin of their dinner guests. Eventually, Elsa had an idea that worried Rayce to no end.

"You don't need to do this dearest. Say the word and you and I can spend the rest of the day doing whatever you wish. Anything but this." Rayce whispered to her, in case Greger was still in earshot.

Elsa rolled her eyes at the captain's mother hen complex. It had been her idea to spar with Greger and yet Rayce was acting like she had been coerced into it somehow. If she were being honest with herself, she had wanted nothing more these past few months than to spar with someone she wasn't afraid she would hurt. Even though Rayce never went easy on her, she always feared striking him as she had Anna. That memory still haunted her from time to time, even after all these years.

"You worry too much! I'm a big girl, darling. Now watch and learn," she gave him a wink and firm pat on the rump with the flat of her blade, earning an embarrassed blush from the captain, before heading to the middle of the field to meet Greger.

Rayce watched her go with growing exasperation but couldn't help but appreciate how fetching his beloved looked in her sparring clothes. Navy wool trousers perfectly accentuated her curves as did the light blue cotton blouse buttoned just enough to avoid scandal. She wore her hair in a high ponytail, flowing down her back and the captain found he liked this style on her nearly as much as her customary braid. He followed her to the middle of the field, praying all the way that she would be safe.

"Ready, Majesty?" Greger taunted as he dropped into a fighting stance. Elsa mimicked his stance with a confident smirk.

"Are you ready, Highness?"

Rayce stepped between them and outlined the rules. The first combatant to push the other over their respective line would be the winner. No blows to the head and only projectiles with blunt edges were to be used. Greger had also been informed beforehand that if Elsa were injured in any manner beyond a few bruises or scrapes, that his life would be forfeit. Powers or not, the former prince didn't want to push his luck with the captain.

"Ready?" Rayce glanced between the two. Elsa nodded and Greger followed suit. The captain moved back several feet before bellowing, "BEGIN!"

The two royals circled each other on the empty training field both waiting for the other to strike. What the visiting prince didn't know was the young queen always preferred to strike first. Slamming the heel of her boot into the grass, thick ice spread in every direction bringing Greger to his knees quickly. Before he could recover, large, blunt spikes of ice cropped up all around him pushing him steadily towards his line. Elsa was slightly disappointed; this was almost too easy.

Greger scrambled backwards a few more feet before kneeling and planting both fists into the ground. Without warning he lifted the field like a dirty rug, a tidal wave of earth bearing down on Elsa. She jumped to the side, avoiding being struck but thrown off her own attack. As soon as she rose to her feet, a large wall of earth appeared before her and began pushing her back towards her line.

"Dammit!" the young queen swore as she simply lacked the physical strength to halt the wall's progress.

Thinking quickly, she ran away from the wall towards her line then reversed course. At the last second, a pole made of ice vaulted her up and over the wall as it plowed through the line behind her.

"Impressive, Majesty," Greger complemented, "but I expected no less."

He resumed his stance, a stone staff appearing in his hand. Elsa pulled her staff from the grass and approached him. No sound but the striking of staffs filled the afternoon air as the royals continued to spar. Greger moved to sweep Elsa's legs at one point and received a smarting strike to his shoulder. He hissed at the contact but returned with one of his own to her thigh that would surely mar the queen's fair skin.

On the sidelines, Rayce stiffened at hearing her cry out but resisted the urge to interfere. Elsa was back on her feet in moments, eyes flashing with defiance. She snapped her staff over her knee before pushing her attack again. Even as her strikes connected with Greger's, large pillars of ice sprang up all around throwing the prince off balance. He countered with pillars made of stone and Elsa could feel the sweat dripping down her brow as she dodged his attack and pressed her own. Switching tactics, she struck Greger with an icy blast, separating the two a few extra feet and allowing the queen room to breathe.

"Tired, Majesty?" Greger taunted from across the field.

"You wish…" Elsa pulled her ice sword from its scabbard, tip blunted. Greger waited for her attack.

Instead of charging the prince directly, Elsa coated the area in ice once more, skate blades appearing on her feet as she zigged and zagged across the field towards her quarry. Greger held his ground, at the last moment planting his staff in the ground and then into the queen's midsection, vaulting her over his head. Unfortunately, neither combatant had realized how much speed the queen had truly built up until she sailed across the field.

"ELSA!"

The captain's whole world came crashing down as he watched her tumble head over heels until she slammed into the ground! The queen remained motionless as Rayce scrambled across the field towards her; panic making him stumble to his destination. When he reached her, she lay on her side, breathing but still unmoving.

"No, please no," Rayce pulled her into his lap noting the torn fabric of her shirt and the bruise already forming underneath. He quickly checked her all over for injury, paying special attention to her head. There was a nasty bump on her forehead but no blood. "Wake up love. I need to know you're okay."

Greger approached the pair in shock, horrified by what he had done. "Is she… is she alright? I didn't mean to-"

"Get back." Rayce commanded him in a voice low and deadly. Elsa groaned beneath him and he shifted her to one arm so he could stroke her face gently. "Elsa? Can you hear me?"

"That…that really hurt," she murmured and Rayce had to laugh in relief as it reminded him so much of their last adventure. "Did I win?"

"I'm sure it did," he replied. "And, no Majesty, I'm afraid it was a draw at best. Can you open your eyes?"

With much effort she forced both eyes open to find Rayce staring at her, brow furrowed in concern. He tilted her head this way and that, checking that her pupils reacted correctly to the light. Though she had been knocked unconscious, it seemed the injury was not serious. Adjusting her in his arms, he stood quickly to take her to Katerine back at the castle.

"What can I do?" Greger asked, still wishing to help in any way he could, guilt written largely on his face.

"You can stay the hell away from her!" Rayce roared, ramming the thin man with his shoulder as he left the field.

Greger just stayed where he was, utterly defeated and crushed that he had hurt his new friends. Why could he seem to get nothing right? He slammed his staff into the ground and headed off towards town to drown his sorrows in cheap ale.


"In my day, Queens sat on their thrones looking pretty. Sometimes, they held tea parties and the like but NEVER have I heard of a queen sparring!" Katerine had been fuming for a good ten minutes as she attended to Elsa's wounds adding to the young queen's headache.

"Katerine, please, my head…" the young woman groaned as she pushed herself into a seated position on the table. The old physician was not sympathetic to her plight.

"Oh shush you! After all I've done to get you healthy and you go out fooling around with Greger and then come in here black and blue expecting me to fix it? And, you Captain! How could you let her do this?"

Rayce was surprised to be included in the reprimand. "Why are you yelling at me? It was her idea!" Elsa shot him a dirty look that he chose to ignore.

"Because it's your job to keep her out of trouble, not carry her here after the fact!" she stalked over to Elsa handing her a small stone cup. "Drink this. It will help with that hard head. Now let's see about your arm…"

She ripped the queen's blouse, using the tear already there to expose the battered skin beneath. Elsa's entire upper arm on her left side was a patchwork of scrapes and bruises, evidence that she had landed primarily on her left side. Katerine jerked her arm around to ensure it wasn't broken or dislocated. Elsa gritted her teeth against the discomfort, not wishing to give the old woman any satisfaction by crying out. When she had satisfactorily tortured her patient, Katerine brought over some paste and bandages.

"Take this off," she commanded waving at Elsa's blouse. Both she and the captain turned several shades of red, exasperating the old woman. "Oh for heaven's sake! Captain wait outside."

He nodded quickly, making haste to leave the room. "The boy acts as if he's never seen a breast before!" the old healer huffed.

"Katerine!"

"And you," the woman continued to rant as she attended to Elsa's arm, smearing the paste over her bruises with less than gentle strokes. "You have that big, beautiful man follow you around all day and what? He is clearly smitten with you, do you feel the same?"

"We are NOT discussing this." Elsa told her with a determined expression. "And even if we were… it isn't that simple…"

"It never is with you royals," the old woman clucked as she finished wrapping the bandage. "You're all done here."

Elsa pulled her tattered blouse back on and slid off the table. She cried out and her knees buckled a little when she put pressure on her left leg. She had forgotten Greger had struck her there, so lost in the adrenaline of the fight. Katerine caught her and sighed.

"What now?"

"Greger struck me with his staff," Elsa explained sheepishly as Rayce came back through the curtain, drawn by the queen's cry.

"Most likely just a bruise," Katerine handed Elsa off to Rayce and grabbed a small bottle off her shelf. Handing the parcel to Rayce she explained, "Sprinkle this in her bathwater, it will remove most of the soreness. Now shoo you two."

Rayce helped Elsa hobble back to her room, which was thankfully not far from the infirmary. He plopped her down on the bed, heedless of her dirty clothes staining the linens, as he turned to find a servant to ready her a bath. Elsa pushed herself off the bed and stumbled to her vanity to inspect the damage. Her forehead boasted a large goose egg of mottled purples, blues, and greens and her chin was scraped as well. Gerda would need LOTS of makeup to camouflage the queen's battle scars as well as some new hairstyles, probably something with bangs.

"You. Sit," she heard Rayce's voice boom behind her. She sunk down into the chair before her vanity, secretly grateful to get weight off her throbbing leg.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. You're stubborn and pig-headed and overconfident and I have never felt as afraid as I did watching you thrown across that field…"

The emotion in Rayce's expression, the raw edge of his words made tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be sorry, just swear to me that you will NEVER do something like that again."

"Pinkie swear," she replied holding up a slender finger, which to her surprise Rayce took.

"Your sister told me that these are the most legally binding promises one can make."

"They are," she laughed lightly.

"Good," he replied before moving away as he heard the servants approaching. "Will I see you later?"

"I promise," she whispered kissing her pinkie finger as the captain headed out the door.


Later that night Elsa heard three small knocks on the far wall of her bedroom. Hobbling over to her bookcase, she knocked three times in response then moved back as the wall swung open. Rayce peeked his head around the corner, ensuring all was clear before exiting the secret passage.

"Are you alone, love?"

"Obviously. Is that not what the secret knock is for?" she teased him lightly before stretching on her tiptoes to kiss him. The kiss was short-lived as she grimaced midway through from the pressure she was putting on her battered leg. "Ouch!"

Rayce mirrored her grimace before scooping her in his arms and carrying her to the bed. He playfully dropped her back on the pillows before prowling over her and resuming their kiss. For some time the two just enjoyed the closeness of one another, deepening the kiss until it had stirred a fire neither could contain.

"Azim…" Elsa's voice was thick with desire and it sent shivers down the captains' spine as his hands slid over the soft planes of her back and stomach. "I want you…"

Those three little words were everything the captain had ever wanted to hear. After two years of longing and lusting, now was his chance to make the queen wholly and fully his. All that was required of him was the will to follow through. And yet he found he couldn't. He tore his lips away from hers, the movement seeming to cause them both a near physical pain.

"Elsa," he moaned heavily, forehead leaned against hers. "I want to… I need you…"

"Then take what you need."

"This is not something one can undo, love. I don't want you to regret what happens here tonight… what you're offering me… it is a gift no man deserves."

Elsa smiled at him sweetly, all lust forgotten for the moment. No matter what the situation, Rayce was always thinking of her first. She shifted around until his head was lying on her chest, her fingers tangling through his wavy hair.

"Over the years I felt like I would never have this, have someone like you. I have given the decision much thought… and I believe this is a gift you and I deserve to share with one another."

"Marry me."

"What?"

"I said, marry me," Rayce moved from her chest, supporting himself on his forearms so she could see the earnest in his expression. "Elsa Idunn Fehr, ruling Majesty of Arendelle, I love you deeply and truly. Will you be my mate until death separates us?"

Elsa stared at him in utter shock. This was crazy, wasn't it? They had barely been courting a few months. And yet, her parents had known each other for a handful of days before they were wed, as is the case in arranged royal pairings. Here she was being offered the opportunity to marry for love and she was hesitating? Rayce had spent nearly two years by her side, sharing her triumphs and defeats, admiring her awkwardness and grace, protecting her against every type of danger imaginable. She would never have guessed at her coronation, when she was so gripped by the fear of hurting others with her powers, that she would now want, more accurately crave, intimacy with someone as surely as she craved Rayce.

"Azim… this is all so sudden," his face fell as she began speaking, certain that he had misjudged, that she did not feel as strongly. "And yet… I find that I love you Azim Askari Rayce more than I have ever loved another, Anna withstanding," she added hastily with a small smile.

Rayce was floored. Elsa had always alluded to it but this was the very first time she had ever said she loved him and he could have been content with simply that when he remembered there was still a pressing matter to be addressed.

" So…"

"Oh you stupid, stupid man!" She lunged forward, arms circling his neck as she kissed him feverishly. "Of course! Of course I'll marry you. What we share is more than I ever dreamed I deserved."

Rayce thought his face might split as he grinned from ear to ear, enjoying the frenzied kisses of his beloved, heart still bursting at her declarations of love. He lowered himself back over her, slowing their kiss to one of lustful appreciation for one another. When he pulled back, he could see the telltale flush on the queen's skin and he knew without a doubt she was feeling as intoxicated with love as he.

"Then let us do it!"

"Do what?" The queen wasn't sure what her partner was alluding to but she was positive there must have been a more romantic manner in which to ask. "I thought you didn't want me to…"

"Not that! I mean, yes, that but later… Let us get married, now!" Rayce sat up excitedly, pulling Elsa with him.

"How? By whom? The council doesn't even know I have chosen a suitor I doubt they would endorse a last-minute wedding to boot!"

"I have given this much thought, love." He grabbed her face in his warm, calloused hands as he often did, radiating all his love and longing into the simple gesture. "Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"Then follow me…"


After two hours of riding, Rayce pulled Glacier to halt before dismounting and offering Elsa his hand so she could do the same. The queen hopped down gracefully, still favoring her leg, before pulling back her hood to survey her surroundings. They were in a lush valley surrounded by a vast selection of Arendelle's varied vegetation. On closer inspection the queen realized that they weren't just in any valley. This was their valley. Elsa immediately began to panic.

"Rayce. What is the meaning of this?" Her expression was one of pure terror and at that very moment, she would have happily run back to Arendelle on foot had the captain not wrapped her in his arms.

"Please, love. You must trust me on this. At least hear him out."

"Him?"

As if on cue, the rocks all around them began to shake and tremble until the pair were surrounded by more than a dozen trolls yet Elsa only recognized the two nearest to them; Bulda, Kristoff's adoptive mother and… him.

"Grand Pabbie."

"Hello, Majesty." The old troll bowed as much as his stiff body would allow before staring into the terrified queen's eyes. "I haven't seen you since the wedding and not since you were a child before that."

"I had wished to never see you again." Elsa spat the words at the old troll, unable to control the rage she felt. His words, his actions had single-handedly ruined her and Anna's childhood. How dare he speak to her? He had no right.

"Elsa!" Rayce was shocked by his beloved's behavior. Never had he seen Elsa treat anyone with such disdain. She pushed Rayce away from her and glared at him.

"You had no right to bring me here! He," she pointed accusingly at the old troll. "He has no right to even speak to me!"

"Love, please. You must let go of the wounds of your past so we can move forward," the captain was entreating her but she would have none of it.

" I thought you understood…" she stared at Rayce with such a look of betrayal that he couldn't help but rush forward to grip her tightly against him.

"I do love. I do understand." Elsa struggled to free herself from his grasp but her fear was quickly overpowering her. Inside the valley was warm and inviting but just beyond it, wind whipped and snow began to fall. "I understand that these wounds will destroy you if carried for another thirteen years. I could never stand by and let that happen. Please, hear him out, for me?"

"I can't… I can't…" she whispered hoarsely as he gripped her ever tighter.

"Yes, you can love. I'm here, with you. Nothing could tear me away."

"Majesty?" Grand Pabbie tried again. Elsa stiffened in Rayce's arms at the sound of the old troll's voice but turned her head to face him, still gripping Rayce fiercely. "I know that I caused you and your sister much pain in the past. This is something from which I can never truly be redeemed. But, despite my meddling, you and Anna found each other again. Love thawed and now you have found love in a new form."

Elsa said nothing in return; afraid her emotions would get the best of her again. Beyond the valley the wind continued to howl and the snowfall increased.

"Your captain came to me, afraid of our magical nature but seeking solace for you. He asked that I ready myself to perform a bonding ceremony for the two of you; our form of a human wedding. Though I am no authority in Arendelle, here in these mountains that you have made your second home, your everlasting love will be recognized. Would you allow this old fool the chance to make right a decision I have always regretted?"

"Please, love? I want nothing more than to be joined to you in this lifetime and the next if I may…" Rayce dropped to his knees, arms wrapped around her waist, voice wracked with emotion.

Elsa couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face as she looked down on Rayce, his posture awash in defeat. Around them the trolls looked on hopefully, each one willing love to win the battle. When her eyes met Grand Pabbie's she felt her resolve crumble as the old troll's eyes were as sorrow-filled as her own. She folded her upper body around Rayce and began to cry in earnest.

"Okay… alright, Grand Pabbie," she told him in a shaky voice. "You can marry us."

Outside the valley, the building storm died as quickly as it had begun. The troll patriarch beamed that his gesture for forgiveness had been received as a shout went up from the surrounding trolls before Bulda snapped out of the moment and began to take control.

"We can't celebrate yet! We have a wedding to throw!"

While Elsa and Rayce collected themselves, the trolls set to digging the bonding pit where the couple would stand during the ceremony beneath an archway of the most beautiful flowers Arendelle had to offer. Rayce stepped down into the pit before picking Elsa up by the waist and setting her down gently. He wore a simple blue shirt and trousers, his hair shining like black oil in the moonlight. Elsa turned her riding clothes into the garment that most represented her freedom, the original ice dress she wore on the North Mountain. Rayce thought she looked absolutely radiant save for the large bruise marring her perfect skin.

"Majesty, if I may?" Elsa nodded stiffly as the old troll reached out a rough hand towards her. He lightly touched her forehead and the queen felt a warm tingling settle over her there as well as her arm, then her thigh. When the old troll pulled away, Elsa knew immediately that he had healed her injuries.

"Thank you," she whispered. " Grand Pabbie, I-"

"There is no need to apologize Majesty. We feel what we feel. Oftentimes it must be expressed for us to find peace. Now let us see about joining you and your beloved…"

The ceremony was a series of chants that the whole congregation recited, wishing the couple long life, health and a fruitful union. Joining their left hands, Grand Pabbie wound a beautiful vine around them, signifying the merging of two hearts into one and then he had the couple recite their "vows".

"Do you Azim Askari Rayce take this woman as your other half? To protect and love, putting her above all else until death should part you and beyond?"

"I do," Rayce replied lifting their joined hands to place a chaste kiss against her knuckles.

"And do you, Elsa Idunn Fehr, ruling monarch of Arendelle, take this man as your other half? To be protected by and loved? Allowing him to put you above all else until death should part you and beyond?"

"I do," she answered, her eyes never leaving the captain's.

"Then it is with a joyful heart that I declare to the earth below and the skies above that these two souls have been joined! Let none tear them apart!"

The assembly burst into cheers again as Elsa and Rayce kissed, forgetting everything but one another as the trolls threw flowers all around in celebration. When they parted, Elsa stared up at Rayce, face so full of joy that he couldn't help but reflect it. She was clearly at peace and the captain knew without a doubt that he had done what was best for her.


The pair danced among the trolls well into the night, the mountain air saturated with joy and laughter as the valley filled overflowing with love. Eventually, the newlyweds tore themselves away, mounting Glacier and waving goodbye with more gratitude than the queen thought she could ever feel for the small creatures. Sitting sidesaddle before Rayce, Elsa had begun to doze when she noticed they were headed the wrong way.

"Azim, Arendelle is the opposite direction… what are you up to now?"

The captain just smiled, wrapping a big arm around his wife as Glacier continued to climb the mountain terrain. "You'll see…" As the strong steed reached the top of the ridge, Elsa finally saw their destination.

"My castle? Why are we…" the queen was rendered speechless.

"What is a wedding without a honeymoon, love?"

Rayce dismounted and tied Glacier to a nearby tree before lifting his bride into his arms. She expected to be set down but he proceeded to carry her across her ice bridge and through the large, translucent doors. All the damage done to her palace during Hans siege had been repaired just months after The Great Thaw when Elsa had brought her sister and Kristoff back with her. The ice harvester had cried at the magnificence of a structure made completely of ice while her sister entertained herself chasing and being chased by the queen's snowmen. Speaking of which…

"Rayce!" a large voice boomed as Marshmallow lumbered toward them. He pulled up short when he saw Elsa in the captain's arms. "Mama hurt?" he asked, expression concerned.

"No, no dear I'm fine!" she assured him patting his large hand affectionately. "Rayce was just, um…"

"We're playing a game!" Rayce supplied and the large snowman nodded enthusiastically. "Do you remember what we discussed the other day?"

"Yes! I go protect the mountain. Rayce stay here with Mama."

"That's correct. She will call you back when it's time, alright?"

"Okay. Bye Mama." He flashed Elsa a toothless smile before heading out the main doors, which closed behind him of their own accord. Elsa stared at Rayce in confusion.

"When did you…"

"Become best friends with your magical ice guard? Olaf introduced us after I taught him how to play chess. You can also thank your little snowman for setting this all up for us."

"Setting what up?" the queen asked skeptically as Rayce continued to carry her through her ice palace, up the icy steps with nary a slip until they reached the large door of her main chamber.

"If you please, love?" Elsa flicked her wrist and the doors slid open easily.

The queen couldn't suppress the gasp that escaped her as the room was revealed. Inside sat her massive four-poster ice-bed covered in plush furs, surrounded by rose petals. The balcony doors were open to reveal the now breaking dawn and a fire roared in the fireplace Elsa had never intended to use. Rayce stepped forward and set her on the bed, settling above her.

"Well?"

"Azim, it's… you shouldn't have…" Elsa blue eyes shone bright, equal parts tears and happiness. "I love you. Thank you."

"I love you too," he leaned down to kiss her. " And you're welcome. Now back to what we were discussing earlier…" Elsa feigned ignorance.

"What was that, dearest?" Rayce fixed her with a pointed look. "Oh, that."

"Yes, that." He replied as he continued to kiss her, moving from her cheek down her neck to her collarbone.

"I suppose you've earned it," she managed to gasp out as his hands roamed over her.

"Close the doors," he growled, voice low with passion. Elsa felt herself flush at the sensation and with a flick of her wrist the newlyweds were free to enjoy the glow of new love away from prying eyes, high atop the North Mountain.


Author's Note: Whew! This was by FAR the longest chapter yet. So there you have it, folks! The lovers are united and the trolls forgiven! From here on out it's going to be ACTION, INTRIGUE, SURPRISES and more ACTION! Thanks for all the support, this crazy ride is nearing its end but boy has it been fun. =) Please continue to review, I love hearing from all of you and wish Elsa and Rayce congratulations before things get interesting! =p